Original subtitles

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

"She changes onstage."

Let the audience know it's in the theater.

That's kind of Brechtian.

No, it ain't, mate.

It's pure Ted Callender.

Mm, but not for long.

Not if the Mailbox Murderer has his way.

Don't joke about that, Jen.

Ted, you're not taking it seriously?

Gimme.

It's the fourth threatening letter I've had in six days.

Yes, I think you might say I'm beginnin' to take it serious.

"Your time has run out, scum.

You have ignored my warnings to call off

your filthy obscene show.

So you must die.

God have mercy on your dirty soul."

I-- I don't understand, you-- you laughed off

the other letters.

Yeah, well, I'm not laughin' this one off, darling.

I'm beginning to think it's not a hoax.

This lunatic means it. I can just feel it.

Do you want me to call the police, Mr. Callender?

Nah. They'd just say it was one of me publicity gimmicks.

So would everybody else.

[scoffs] That's the giggle of the year, isn't it?

The police will only believe that someone's threatening

to do me in if someone actually does me in.

That's some situation. That's Brechtian for you.

Go on out the front, the two of you,

I want to show you something I've been working on.

It's an effect for an entrance.

[intense music]

[gunshot]

[instrumental music]

Man 1: Much obliged, marshal.

Carve up a notch or two for me.

I know there's a murder done every half hour in America,

but I didn't come here to help you fill your quota.

Look, this may be just routine to you, chief--

Oh, I know exactly how you feel, Mr. Callender,

and why you're here.

Yeah? Well, maybe then you'll know that I will not be

stepping out into your fair city, not without

two of New York's finest to keep me company,

and each of them with a loaded Tommy gun up his jumper.

Yes, Mr. Callender. You've made yourself clear. Loud and clear.

Three times.

Oh, I am sorry if my loud, crude, vulgar voice

is givin' you a headache.

The pain, Mr. Callender, is not in my head.

Oh, you're a charmer, you are.

Well, I almost had a headache. You know what sort?

The sort of headache you get when lead goes in here

and comes out of here.

What have I got to do to get a little bit of protection

around here, maybe look in the yellow pages for the mafia,

rent a gunman to guard me?

I tell ya, if I called them, then they'd be here in five--

That won't be necessary, sir. We might be able to cater

to you quicker, even though we're under-manned

and overworked. Now if you'll wait outside...

Right.

Clifford: Well, what do you think of that story?

A shot in the dark. Literally.

Right.

He could have pulled the trigger, then hidden the gun.

Joe: All for publicity.

He's pulled so many stunts like this all over Europe,

almost as dramatic, but not quite.

Well, this may be genuine. We have to treat it that way.

Assign McCloud to him, he's all we can spare.

Well, howdy, Tombstone.

You better hitch up your gun belt.

There's trouble brewin'.

There you go.

Good morning, Joe.

Yeah, for a necktie party.

Well, Joe, now, I get the feelin', of course,

it could be my imagination, but I get the feelin'

that something's going on around here

that I don't know about.

You will, McCloud, you will.

The chief don't take kindly to professional town-tamers.

Town-tamers?

Yeah, seems we got one in New York.

Gonna make it safe for folks to walk the streets.

That seems like an awful ambitious job

for one little old town-tamer.

Who drifted in, Doc Holliday?

No, McCloud. You.

Me?

What'd I do?

The newspapers, McCloud.

The newspapers?

Seems you've made the fancy uptown columns.

The chief has a copy right handy.

Clifford: McCloud!

McCloud!

Mornin', chief.

Shut the door.

Sit down.

You seen this?

- Well, no-- - Sit down.

I'll read it to you.

"The Marshal from Manhattan by Chris Coughlin."

Interesting already, isn't it?

"Today in our series on Manhattan Manhunt,

we take a look at a most marvelous man from New Mexico,

Deputy Marshal Sam McCloud, who in his brief tenure

on special assignment with the New York Police Department,

has already shown the boys in blue a thing or two

about taming the toughest town since Tombstone."

How do you like it so far?

Well, now, chief, I...

I don't know a thing about that, and I'll tell you,

if I get a hold of that Chris...

Don't you all out West have some homily about

shutting the barn door after the horse is gone?

Yeah, I believe we do have something like that.

We have 30,000 policemen in New York who work

as silent members of the team, who don't get enough pay,

who don't expect any newspaper coverage

and just might resent being told they aren't capable

of doing their jobs without the help

of the Grand Duke of New Mexico.

[chuckles] Women, they,

they sure do stir things up, don't they?

And you have a way of walking around this town in a spotlight

and getting involved in cases to which you have not been assigned

and getting headlines you don't deserve,

and upsetting the well-oiled machinery

of the police department to which you do not belong.

McCloud, beginning now and for as long as you're with us,

I don't want to know you're around.

Do I make myself clear?

Comin' in like a bear in December.

McCloud, I don't even want to know what that means.

This ought to keep you busy for a while.

Clifford: Broadhurst.

- Yes, sir. - You will stay with McCloud.

Well, wait a minute now, uh, chief,

this is not the drugstore case.

I had a couple of questions I wanted to ask the policeman

who got shot last night.

That isn't your case. This one is.

Should be right up your corral.

Poison pen letters and plenty of calico right off Broadway.

Brief him on the case.

Okay, Joe, give me the lowdown on this show biz.

Well, at least you'll have had your chance to see

the kooky side of New York police work.

Oh, kooky, isn't it?

That depends on how you look at it.

You're gonna look at it from underground for a while,

underground theater. Off Broadway.

Yeah, I heard about that down in New Mexico.

We got television and magazines,

even though we're what you might call "way off Broadway."

Just let me zero in on this Callender character for you.

He's, uh, well, you might find him, sort of, a little hostile.

[instrumental music]

Callender: Oh, blimey, what a sight for sore eyes you are,

I don't think.

You make me feel very confident, I must say,

confident of a diabolical disaster.

Can't you make that entrance look like

it means something, darling?

You're a sacrificial maiden, on the edge of death.

Miss Houghton, I realize this is your very first stage appearance

but you don't have to look as though you were seized

and flung on in front of an unsuspecting public.

Come here.

Would you like me to explain the scene to you again?

That's not necessary.

Callender: You see, you want to be sacrificed.

You're, you're that kind of stupid,

primitive, confused bird.

The sacrificial type, born to it.

So for God's sake and mine, when you come on that stage,

come on transported with joy!

Not looking like you're an hour late for an appointment

to have your eyebrows plucked.

May I try it again?

I don't know, can you?

If you want me to.

Thanks.

But I'd rather eat lunch.

[thunder rumbling]

[instrumental music]

[rain pattering]

You just got to face it, love.

You don't have that spark that lights the whole stage up

and sends the people out walkin' on air.

Must we talk about it now?

I'm quite positive that Mr. McCloud is not interested.

What do you want to eat, Mac?

I highly recommend the escargot.

Uh, order anything you like, it's on me.

I gotta see a man about a column.

It's the theater editor from some big magazine. Over there.

Ted never misses a chance like that.

And you're not going to miss this chance to talk to me alone.

Anyway, you-- you're taking a long way around.

Why not simply suspect me?

Because you still love him.

You're right.

Ted had a partner in London.

They could have financed this American production themselves.

But Ted gave him everything, except the American rights,

to get rid of him, and to have the spotlight all to himself.

That's Ted. He can't share with anyone, anytime.

So those headlines, "Ted and Jennifer,"

oh, they bug him.

But they're still your favorite readin' matter, is that right?

It's a sad thing, marshal, to realize that

the best thing you can do for the one you love

is get out of his sight.

Ta-da!

You look like you got what you wanted.

More. I'm on the cover, in exchange for an exclusive.

It's marvelous. "Ted Callender masterminds

the shortest theatrical career on record."

Jennifer: Whose? - Yours.

The only actress in history to retire before she debuted.

See, a story like that's good.

It shows I can admit a mistake and correct it.

It's good for me image, and your nerves, Jenny.

Hey.

You're relieved, aren't you, darlin'?

I'll bet you a pound to a pinch of snuff you're relieved.

Just think of it, darling, this afternoon,

instead of going to the theater for that rotten old rehearsal,

you'll toddle up to my digs, get everything ready

for the party, right?

You can take the car.

Oh. Here's the keys in case I forget.

You finished with this?

Jennifer: Yes, Ted.

Quite finished.

I'm not hungry, I think I'll go up to the house right now.

- Excuse me. - That's a good idea, darling.

See anything you want, Mac?

Yeah, except it's not on the menu.

[rain pattering]

[engine cranking]

[car horn honks]

[tires screech]

[horn blaring]

[people clamoring]

[instrumental music]

McCloud: Uh-huh. Yup.

Yeah?

Yeah, that's right.

Well, I, I reckon that you'll find

that the foot feed was rigged

as well as the brakes.

No.

No, we walked over to the restaurant.

It's on the same block with the theater.

Well, I'll tell you, whoever fixed the car

had all morning to do it.

Or have it done for him.

Yeah.

[chuckles] Yeah, right.

There you go.

Uh, Mr. Callender, about that party of yours.

I ain't calling it off.

You know it's going to be very difficult to guard you

with all those people there.

Well, that's your problem, mate.

It's your life.

Oh, ain't it marvelous?

First of all, they think I'm shootin' at me self

and then muckin' at me car

just to get me picture in the paper.

And now, all of a sudden...

Now don't get me wrong, I am honored that you and your lot

finally believe me at last, but business is business

and that party is my business.

And catchin' and clobberin' that homicidal critic is yours.

I can't guarantee your safety if you don't cooperate.

Guarantee? You didn't do too good a job

guaranteeing it just now, did you, when my car played

high speed hopscotch halfway across New York.

Ted, Mr. McCloud couldn't have known

they'd tamper with that car.

Mr. Callender is right, uh,

excuse me, Ms. Houghton, but it's my job

to anticipate and prevent.

I got a couple of policemen to guard you while I'm away.

- Going where? - Just to check out somethin'.

Checkin' out what?

Well, maybe nothing, that's the way police work is.

Dead-ends and dull.

It's not all spotlights and spangles.

If you're feeling alright, darling,

I got to get off to rehearsal.

There is something.

Alright, you can be in the play.

- Maybe I was hasty. - Thanks.

But that's not exactly, uh...

Ted, will you sit down for a minute?

I don't have time to sit down, do I, darlin'?

Now what is it, Jen?

Will you marry me?

I knew it. I'll show you one bit of natural sympathy...

And I'll trade on it. Right.

You're brazen, that's what you are, Jen.

- Dead brazen. - No.

Just feminine and ruthless.

Besides, one of us had to come out with the word "marry."

- Why? - Because I'm right for you.

And if it takes a car crash for you to see it...

You could be in a bloody earthquake

and it wouldn't mean a thing to me.

Oh, you always exaggerate.

Forget it.

We're alright as we are.

We're miserable the way we are.

Then we're alright as far as I'm concerned.

Oh, Ted...

I don't want to hear anymore about the marriage.

Do you understand? No more! Finished!

You're through with this?

Huh. Yeah, there you go.

I tell you, I'll call you back in an hour.

That's the fourth call you've made this morning, McCloud,

and you don't know that many people in New York.

Woman on radio: Code 411, Code 411.

Area of 7th Avenue and 52nd Street.

Joe: Why would they be calling us in there?

Woman on radio: Officer on scene requesting urgent assistance.

[gunshots]

[siren blaring]

[dramatic music]

[music continues]

Joe: Who is it?

Man 2: Looks like the guy who's been hitting the drugstores.

I spotted him in the pharmacy.

[music continues]

Hold it.

[gunshot]

Cover me from here.

[music continues]

[gunshot]

You won't get off this roof alive unless you give it up.

[dramatic music]

Hold it right there, officer.

Don't move, not even an inch.

Now don't make a sound.

[gunshots]

Now call to your friend and tell him you got me.

Hey, Eisenberg!

I got him! You hear me, Harry?

You warned him. You shouldn't have.

Now take it easy, pal.

[dramatic music]

McCloud!

[gunshot]

[people clamoring]

Joe: Get back, let him through.

McCloud: That's alright. I can walk right. Hold it.

Joe: Now take it easy, Sam. You're hurt.

McCloud: No. Just my pride. Nothing but a scratch.

I don't want that stretcher. Get it outta here.

Man 3: Another brush with the drugstore bandit, marshal?

We'll answer all your questions later. Not now, boys.

Man 3: Was it the same guy who tried to kill the other officer?

Nobody said anybody tried to kill anybody.

Man 3: You saying he didn't try to kill you, marshal?

McCloud: I'm not saying anything. Back it off.

Joe: That's it, boys, you'll get a statement later.

Okay, fellas.

I don't, I don't know why it is

they always keep puttin' words in my mouth.

Because somehow with you, McCloud,

when they go in, they're just words,

but when they come out, they're headlines.

Clifford: How does he do it, Joe?

Two editions in one day.

"Marshal gets Brownstone shot out from under him."

"Drugstore bandit eludes penthouse posse."

That was my fault, lieutenant.

Let's not have any credit grabbing around here.

There's room on my list for both of you.

Now did he or did he not tell those reporters

that the gunman was a good guy who merely ran around

shooting the weapons out of his victims' hands

and then rode off into the sunset?

Well, that isn't exactly what he said, lieutenant.

But he does seem to have a theory on this gunman.

Oh. Another of the marshal's barnyard theories?

Joe: Seems to think the drugstore bandit isn't all bad.

Neither was Jack the Ripper,

but we don't grade on a curve around here.

Well, what's the last word?

They still say he's going to be alright?

I think so. He got off lucky.

McCloud: Now, chief, I just can't buy it that it's luck

that two police officers are cut down by an Army .45

and neither one of 'em is in serious condition.

I'd just like to point out that either it's awful hard

for a man not to get killed with a weapon like that.

Marshal, I can only think that your delirium

at just being alive is affecting your judgment.

Well, I'd like for you to know that he had me

dead center in his sights and he could have blown a hole

clean through me, and he didn't.

Lieutenant, the marshal was shot in the latissimus dorsi.

Though it may be just a coincidence, but it's one

of the very few places that he could've been injured

without serious consequences.

So we assume the guy's a whiz with an Army .45.

What does that prove? In case you hadn't heard, marshal,

being top gun in town no longer puts the law in your pocket.

No, but if we can find out what he is, it'll help us

to find out who he is.

I assume you've been checking with the military,

military records, uh...

seeing that, seeing that an Army .45

turned up in the case.

Well, thank you very much for your confidence

in the department. Yes, we have.

Well, then, if we can check for a champion marksman,

why, that ought to narrow the field down considerably.

- Are you through theorizing? - No, sir.

You might also check for a champion marksman

with a medical problem.

A man that knocks off pharmacies for drugs.

The way he does, gotta have a powerful need

that's drivin' him.

Did you ever heard of the profit motive?

You know, I take my hat off to you, marshal.

You know, it isn't often a green subordinate will take time out

from, uh, hanging over rooftops, popping off to the press,

letting cornered gunmen escape scott-free.

All this and still find time to council the chief of detectives

on how to run his department. Why am I so blessed?

Well, I'm just as sorry as I can be

that I let him get away, chief.

I just feel as foolish as a man can feel about that,

but it, it just somehow got out of hand.

Well, that's alright, marshal.

We're going to give you a rest from all these

complex big city cases.

As of right now, you're back to the case you were assigned,

the show biz poison pen letters and publicity shindig.

McCloud: Oh, uh, chief, I would like to point out to you

that I didn't ask to come to New York, but since I'm here,

I would like to feel that I'm being useful.

So would I, but you can't have everything, can you?

Peter, how is he?

Well, anything requiring the use of his, uh, latissimus dorsi

is pretty much out of the question.

Sam, I heard on the radio. How bad is it?

Oh, I think I'm gonna pull through alright

with a little, uh, country care and attention.

Where were you...

Is there anything?

The latissimus dorsi, Miss Coughlin.

Oh, shucks, been so long since I got any use out of that anyway,

no use getting worked up about it.

We were very fortunate,

the bullet didn't hit anything vital.

Well, I'm glad to hear that.

Yeah, two brushes with disaster in one day,

that's enough for any man.

Two?

I, uh, I enjoyed reading your column

this morning, Miss Coughlin. I found it very amusing.

[chuckles] Oh, well, well, thank you,

it was kind of a surprise for the marshal.

- Huh. - Hmm.

- Did it surprise you, marshal? - Yes, ma'am.

- Then you read it? - No, ma'am.

It was read to me by Chief Clifford.

The, uh, chief wasn't pleased?

[laughs]

It hit him about like a three-day case

of the prairie chigers.

Well, I'll just have to find some way

to make it up to you, Sam.

Yes, that certainly is one of my cards,

but I'm afraid I don't understand.

Does your company still deal in jewelry

with the Houghton family?

Oh, yes, we've had their account for three generations.

Well, Jennifer Houghton was in a car accident.

Now she's not hurt, but we found this card

spilled out of her purse near the scene of the crash.

I'm afraid I don't see the connection.

Well, I'm afraid I don't either, Mr. Grantley,

between Jennifer Houghton and your company.

You see, when she decided that she would go Bohemian,

she did a pretty good job of it.

She cut herself off from her family, from their money,

from their way of life, and I just don't understand

why she would keep a society jeweler's business card

in her purse.

I suggest you ask her.

Well, listen, Grantley, uh,

I come all the way across town to ask you.

Mr. McCloud, a jeweler is sometimes called upon

to be as discreet as a lawyer or a doctor.

Well, our clients rely on our integrity.

Is Jennifer Houghton still a client of yours, is she?

No. I didn't say that.

It's just that you don't want to break a certain confidence

that's she's placed in you?

Exactly.

Well, I think you better.

Allow me to be a judge of that.

No, I'm afraid that you're gonna have to allow me.

Now you can consider this an official police question.

[sighs]

Jennifer Houghton didn't quite take to her vow

of Bohemian poverty 100 percent.

On the day she announced her rejection

of her family's wealth, oh, with such a flourish of trumpets,

she sold some of her jewelry to me for $100,000.

Naturally, she wanted the transaction kept quiet.

It might have blunted the edge of her idealistic fervor.

I have all the details here in my accounts.

Here we are.

"April the 26th, cash payment."

Well, thank you very much, Mr. Grantley.

Now, of course, you will consider this investigation

strictly confidential?

I mean, I can rely upon your discretion?

[instrumental music]

[indistinct chatter]

[upbeat music]

Callender: Do you mind if I tell you something?

If I was the marrying kind...

[music continues]

[indistinct chatter]

[indistinct chatter]

McCloud.

How do things look there?

Like Halloween.

Well, now you know what a show folk hoedown looks like.

[chuckles]

Yeah, well, to tell you the truth, chief,

I don't think this party

or the show that he's fixin' to put on

would move too many tickets down in Taos.

[upbeat music]

Thanks. That was a beauty.

Don't mention it.

Oh, I want to mention it,

and a lot more besides.

What?

When can we talk about the greatest publicity gimmick

you've ever heard?

What's wrong with right now?

Nothing.

So talk.

Only in private.

It's that good?

It's that good.

Hey, darlin', I've got to talk to this geezer.

Okay. But hurry back.

I promise.

[music continues]

Clifford on phone: No, you may not be on this case much longer,

we've had a couple of confessions, Sam.

- A couple? - Oh, yes.

We do things big in New York.

Either one of them checks out for real,

we'll pull off the surveillance.

As far as I'm concerned, you can call them off right now.

Goodbye, marshal.

[music continues]

Callender: You didn't say what magazine you were with.

Man 4: I'll tell you, Mr. Callender.

You see, it really doesn't matter.

Callender: Why?

Because...

Because the world would be better off without you.

Callender: Now take it easy.

[music continues]

Tear down that which has taken centuries to build.

Now don't get excited.

[doorknob rattling]

No!

[gunshots]

[people clamoring]

[gunshots]

[dramatic music]

Oh, this is hopeless.

A thousand bleedin' villains and not one of 'em

looks like the perisher that shot me.

Why, you wanted her ladyship along,

I've got no idea, I really haven't.

She just caught one glimpse of the geezer downstairs.

She's probably looking for someone with emerald eyes,

purple earholes, and lightnin' flashin' out of his hooter.

Keep lookin' all the same, huh?

And what giant step forward have you got to report, Sherlock?

Anything yet? I got the ballistics report back.

According to the picture, the gun that was used tonight

is not the same one that was fired in the theater.

How very significant.

Do you realize what that means, my dear?

Well, it means that anyone over here anyone can own

two unregistered guns, even a homicidal ham.

What're you doin' analyzin' bullets?

Why aren't you out there trying to catch this fellow?

"Homicidal ham?" You mean actor?

- Did I say... - Yes, Ted.

What makes you think he's an actor?

I don't know.

Everything about him, I guess.

I mean, it's just in a way he acted.

Then we could be looking in the wrong book.

We've got an APB out on him, but we don't have any picture.

Oh, we do now.

Broadhurst came up with a casting directory.

Oh.

Is this is how they get their jobs?

Oh, I guess it is supposed to help.

You don't deal much with actors down on the farm, do you?

No, there's not too many of 'em out on the mesa.

Ah, most of them are normal, hardworking people

but there's an element that's

emotionally unstable and psychically insecure.

Take that for starters, stir with frustration,

add a gun and you come up with Les Lander.

Yeah, for them, it's not all the world's a stage, it's...

The stage is all the world.

Oh, you read Shakespeare in the bunkhouse?

I thought that was Zane Grey.

[instrumental music]

The car's ready, Miss Houghton.

Yeah, well, she's not.

Well, I have to get to the theater.

Callender: No, wait a minute.

You can't go without I give you a cuddle first, can you?

I don't understand.

Why do you think I got rid of this sling?

So I could give you a ride and two handed cuddle.

I mean, that's customary, ain't it?

You know after a proposal.

Providing the lady says yes.

I'm, uh, I'm sorry I popped the question

in front of old Mac here, but, well, those coppers

never leave me alone nowadays.

Anyway, how many girlfriends you know that got engaged, uh,

with a police escort, eh?

I know that scratch I got on me arm is hardly what you call

"A brush with death," but being shot at really made me think.

I don't know, I've never met a girl who put up with my nonsense

and carry it on the way you do.

So I'd better grab you while the grabbing's good.

'Cause I love you.

Well, ahem, now the, the cuddlin' bit is over,

uh, we should have a drop of champagne, right?

I know, and you're gonna tell me you can't have a drink, Mac,

because you're on duty, right?

That's right, I'm on duty.

Hey, now darlin', how would you like to be married

to someone as predictable as that?

[chuckles] I don't know.

I'm not used to the idea of marrying someone

who's unpredictable as you.

Well, congratulations.

Thank you.

Please catch that man.

We'll do the best we can.

Champagne coming up.

Here, my love. Yes, there we go.

Do me a favor.

Would you make the toast, Mac?

Well, I think I can manage that.

May you both be in heaven one hour

before the devil knows you're dead.

Thank you.

Cheers.

Well, if you'd like to get to the theater, you--

Oh, well...

- I hate to leave you. - Oh, I don't want you to go.

I'll call you from there though

when they're into the first scene.

Alright, listen, forget all that rubbish I told you about.

You're going to be marvelous in the part.

I'm going to be proud of you, I know it.

- You call me? - Yeah.

- Ta-ta, love. - Bye, Mac.

Nice bird, isn't she?

Well, you know, what did you think about it all?

McCloud: What do I think about it?

Yeah.

Well... I tell you,

I think she's in for trouble.

What?

I feel sorry for her.

Frankly, Mac, I don't bloody well care what you feel.

I'm too happy. Much too happy.

[instrumental music]

Gus: What are you doing here now?

You're not on until just before intermission.

- How do I look? - You're gonna knock 'em dead.

Hey, are you alright?

No, I'm just a bit jittery.

- I gotta tell you something. Gus: What?

Ted and me are getting married.

Oh, I guess that's enough to knock anybody off balance.

[chuckles] Yeah.

- Congratulations. - Thank you.

Callender: Curtain's goin' up about now.

Do you realize what that means is sheer hard labor?

How does it mean in hard cash?

- What? To put the show? McCloud: Mm-hmm.

About $100,000.

Really?

Well, I suppose you didn't have any trouble raising the money

after your London success.

Who's backing you here?

Sorry, mate, that's classified information.

There's where even you draw the publicity line, huh?

Yup.

The only thing that you or anybody else

read about that... was this.

[dramatic music]

Grantley: April 26th, cash payment.

She sold her jewelry to me for $100,000.

[telephone ringing]

Hello. Oh, Jenny.

Yeah, hi. They're into the first scene.

You know the tribal symbolism.

[instrumental music]

It's...

[choking]

It's going well...

- Ted. - What's the matter, Jenny?

[gasping] Ted...

[instrumental music]

[siren blaring]

She's alright. I'll just get her a drink.

She's dead, Mr. Callender.

I don't understand this.

This is best wishes from somebody

I... I don't even know.

I bet she drank that.

It was meant for me.

This is how he's gonna get at me.

Instead, he got... got Jen.

[telephone ringing]

McCloud: Hello.

Yeah, this is McCloud speaking.

Oh, really?

Yeah. Right.

Oh, listen, you better get,

better get a hold of Chief Clifford,

tell him that Jennifer Houghton's dead. Right.

Caught Les Lander. They need you for positive identification.

[dramatic music]

Yeah, yeah, I know what you're waiting for.

But meantime, legally, you're up to your knees in quicksand.

Which means the entire PD's got to go slow and easy.

Well, all I did was ask Callender

to stick around a spell.

[chuckles] That's not the way he could tell it

if he was out to make some news.

Right, wrongful detention, unlawful arrest,

habeas corpus, British Consul, all over the front page.

You give the orders. You want me to turn him loose?

Alright, five minutes.

If the lab boys don't call from the house in five minutes,

I can't let you hold him a second longer.

Callender: What d'you want with me now, Mac?

Haven't I been through enough for one night?

I'd think that it's best that you read Les Lander's statement.

Look, I-- I identified him, right?

Somehow I kept me hands away from his windpipe.

And that's me lot. I don't wanna read his lousy statement.

Well, I'll just give you the heavy part.

You see, he admits attempting murder the other night

at your house, but that's all that he admits.

From sending the threat note, to putting poison

in the champagne, he says, "Unh-unh, no, sir, wasn't me."

Of course, he does. I'm not surprised.

People always deny their guilt.

Well, he's not guilty.

You see, Les Lander didn't send those notes.

He, uh, he got fired up by all the publicity though,

and tried to carry out the threats in them

but he didn't send them.

He fired the shot at your house the other night

and that's all. And that's all that he's being charged with.

Oh, is it?

While my poor Jen lies dead burned out with poison,

all you're gonna nail him with

he's taken a shot at me in the house?

What sort of policeman are you?

What, do you call that justice?

You're taking a word of that lunatic?

I think this is what you're waiting for, McCloud.

Let me see.

Oh, yeah, yeah, sure is. Thank you, Joe.

I was askin' a question before we were interrupted...

Yeah, why I feel that Les Lander is innocent.

Well, it's really very simple, Mr. Callender.

You see, Jennifer Houghton didn't die of poison

taken at the theater.

Don't you trust the evidence of your own eyes?

You planted the wine there and the glass.

Just like you planted the poison in her drink at the house.

What are you sayin'?

I warn you, this has gone beyond a joke.

A long way beyond.

See, Mr. Callender, I sent a lab team out to your house.

Now, you had already washed out the glass

that Jennifer drank from.

But they found exactly what I thought they'd find.

They found small traces of poison in the waste pipe

where you had put it.

Now, why would I do something like that?

Money.

Money and an oversized ego.

Jennifer Houghton financed

this little project of yours secretly.

And you if killed her,

of course, you could walk away

with all the profits for yourself.

And at the same time, you could give your attention

to the ladies.

But can you prove it?

The evidence is pretty conclusive.

You see, I knew that she didn't take a drink at the theater

because the lipstick, the natural lipstick on the glass

didn't match the theatrical lipstick

that she was wearing at the time.

[laughs] You make me laugh, you do.

I know your game, you're trying to build up

a name by busting me for homicide.

And I know why, because there's going to be plenty of fireworks

at the trial, right?

Newspaper headlines, television coverage

all over the world.

Naturally, I'd defend myself.

Why?

'Cause there not a lawyer in the land

who can do to that jury what I can do, mate.

I can mesmerize them.

Just like I mesmerized Jenny.

If I wanted to, I could... mesmerize that judge.

Just a matter of waiting for the right moment,

and then, "I object, Your Honor."

And just approach that bench...

and I could force that judge to look up to me.

You know, Mac, I, I really owe you a debt of gratitude.

Don't... And do you know why?

Do you know what you've done for me?

You've given me the key to the whole candy store,

million dollars worth of publicity.

Million dollars for me, for me personal account.

Why? Because of a million dollar trial.

What is it? Uh...

Innocent until proven guilty, right, Mac?

Whatever the cost, that's the American way, isn't it?

Mm-hmm, yeah.

With all the bruisin', pushin', hittin' and jabbin'

beneath the belt that it takes from time to time.

That's right, it's, it's the American way.

Let's go.

Lead on, McDuff. You know, I'm going to make you a star.

Oh, you bet you are.

Pharmacist inside saw a man in the alley last night

before the hold-up, we checked it out.

- Anything? - We may have gotten lucky.

The lab boys came up with a print.

Uh, someone probably our man sat up here on this railing

waiting for the day crew to get off at the pharmacy.

We got a print on the railing and I think that we're gonna

get a print off this cigarette pack.

Enough to make him?

Uh, I don't know, lieutenant.

That looks pretty distorted, like maybe he had some sort

of scar tissue on his hands.

Scar tissue?

Yeah, I saw a lot of that in the service.

If he's been reprinted since the injury,

I think I can get you a make in a couple of hours.

Right, stay with it.

McCloud: 11:00? I never slept so late in my life.

Well, I feel mighty sorry about Jennifer.

That Callender had all the earmarks of a phoney,

but I didn't take him to be a murderer.

What brought you up here?

Joe: Boys got lucky, they picked up a print

outside the drugstore.

- Enough to run a make? - Yeah.

Just came through a few minutes ago.

Nothing conclusive, but we do have a possible suspect.

Thought you might be interested.

He's a veteran with a medical history of narcotics addiction

as a result of a combat injury.

McCloud: Well, let's get ridin'.

Joe: McCloud, that isn't our case.

Do you know where they're going to call in the suspect?

West 85th Street.

Let's look for that thief on West 85th Street.

Now just don't you worry, I'll think of a reason.

McCloud.

[children clamoring]

[indistinct radio chatter]

I can't look.

McCloud: Yeah.

Well, you know two of us showin' up like this, the chief might

get the idea, we're working on ganging up on him.

If you want to, you can just stay here

and keep an eye on the hubcaps.

There you go.

Clifford: Two men around back, one up there on the roof.

Yes, sir.

Morning, chief.

Heard you had a little, uh, break on the drugstore case.

Well, McCloud, what're you doing here?

Oh, just happened to be in the neighborhood.

Just thought maybe you might need me

to help identify the suspect.

You know, a man's fingerprints on a cigarette packet

found halfway down the alley from the hold-up,

that don't exactly tie him to the crime.

And just how do you plan to identify him?

You know the suspect's face was covered

with a mask when you saw him.

Boy, you can tell a whole lot about a man

without seeing his face.

I mean, there ain't two men that's going to move

just exactly alike.

Hm, that sounds very scientific.

That a big police tool in Taos?

Oh, yeah, we've used it pretty good advantage down there

from time to time. It might do some good here.

I mean, you got nothing to lose.

The men are in position, lieutenant.

Alright, you back us up, Polk.

McCloud and I'll go in.

You fellows keep this area clear.

You ball this one up, you won't know what hit you.

I appreciate your confidence, chief.

Wait here.

[instrumental music on stereo]

Woman 1: Who is it?

Clifford: Police officers.

Mrs. Stanford?

Who wants to know?

We have a warrant for Arnold Stanford's arrest.

F-- For?

Suspicion of robbery, assault with a deadly weapon.

What do you call that?

- Is he here? - No.

Do you mind if we step in, look around, ma'am?

We also have a search warrant.

Why don't you come in and look around then?

Mrs. Stanford, your husband own a .45 caliber Army sidearm?

We'll be able to find out eventually, you know.

Yeah, he has a special, a matched set.

He was a national champion.

You sure talk a lot, cowboy.

Yo-- you wouldn't be Marshal Sam McCloud?

- You caught me. - Yeah, I figured.

I read about you in the papers.

Hmph, yeah, I've been in the paper, sorry to say.

You were wounded.

Wasn't much, just a scratch.

I'm glad.

This Arnold?

Yeah, that, uh, that was taken right after his discharge.

Oh, he's a nice looking fellow.

Clifford: Mrs. Stanford.

When was the last time you saw your husband?

- I don't remember. Clifford: Mrs. Stanford...

Well, it-- it's been several days.

He's away, on business. Philadelphia.

You are not helping him any by keeping him on the run.

You don't run to Philadelphia, lieutenant. You take a train.

Mrs. Stanford, the police department can probably match

your husband's firearms to two shootings

involving the police.

Clifford: We picked up a fingerprint on his last job,

so there is no point in his running.

Hey, you-- you keep saying he's running.

We're also saying that Arnold could use some help.

From what I see, he needs it pretty bad.

Help?

Yeah, help.

- We'd like to help. - How could you?

I mean... you can't even begin

to understand what the problem is.

We know he spent considerable time in an army hospital.

Yeah, yeah, they patched him up just fine.

Only now the patches are killing him.

You got any idea how many boys who come out of hospitals

wind up hooked on narcotics?

This is the last rung on the ladder.

Arnold's been home two years.

In that time, we-- we've lost our house, our savings,

our car, Arnold's career.

Not much left.

But he's still alive, that means he can be helped.

If we get to him before he kills somebody,

or a policeman kills him.

Just one thing wrong with what you said.

And what's that?

I don't think Arnold cares if you kill him.

Figures he's dead anyway.

We get our man?

We don't have anybody yet.

I want this place under 24-hour surveillance.

Yes, sir.

Well, don't bother to say it, marshal.

Don't bother to say what?

- That you were right. - No.

Now, listen, your lab men, they found the fingerprints.

My way could have taken a long time.

No, no, you were right on target. And I owe you one.

Well, thank you.

[instrumental music]

Congratulations.

I've never seen the chief back down like that before.

Well, I figured it's all in the way you can handle a fella.

[instrumental music]

- McCloud, one thing. - Yup.

So far the chief's discipline

has been on the good natured side...

Well, it ain't been too bad, so far.

It can get a lot worse.

Take my advice, go straight to your room,

lock your door and go to bed.

Joe, I give you my word.

I won't be on tomorrow morning's front page.

What more can I ask?

Chris: Sam.

McCloud: Well...

I've been trying to call you all afternoon.

Well, the chief told me to get lost, and I've been trying.

Do you want to get back into his good graces?

Anything short of jumpin' off the Brooklyn Bridge?

Bring in the drug store bandit.

[laughs]

Chief told me to stay out of that case. He meant it.

I suppose you gave him your word or something like that.

Well, when you're working on a team, you see,

you gotta follow the leader even if means it grates you a little.

Well, marshal, your code of the West

just may come in for a slight whooping.

Something's come up.

[instrumental music]

Well, now that you got me here.

If this is some kind of game, we won't play it by country rules.

Country rules?

No bitin', no hair pullin', three times on the mat

and that's all she wrote.

I'll take a raincheck.

Now you're not going to tell me this is business.

I'm afraid so.

Thanks for coming, marshal.

Mrs. Stanford... you'll have to forgive me

if I seem a little surprised,

but Chris here keeps a good secret.

She's been trying to reach you since this afternoon.

I was afraid to leave any kind of a message

with police headquarters.

I-- I don't want them to know I contacted you.

I want to put my trust in you.

But just what is it you want me to do?

Save my husband's life.

I'll get some coffee.

Uh, no, thank you.

Please, sit down.

Well, like they say,

"You, you've got my undivided attention."

[chuckles]

What you said to those reporters,

you know, about the man who shot you.

Do you still believe it?

Well, that was just kind of a feeling that I had...

I know that we looked at each other square in the face

and he could've killed me, but he didn't.

He couldn't.

M-- my husband, he is wonderful. I mean, he's sick.

But he couldn't kill.

Well, just supposin' that I'm willing to believe that.

Well... I think maybe I could...

convince Arnold to give himself up.

Well, that's his only chance, you know.

- It has to be to you. - Why me?

I'm not even an official New York policeman.

Yeah, well, that's the whole point.

I mean, Arnold, he shot two policemen.

I can't convince him that they're gonna

give him a chance to surrender.

What makes you think he's going to trust me?

What you said in the papers.

You believed in him. He'll believe in you.

Hm, well, are you willin' to take me to him?

I can't. I mean, I don't know where he is.

But he's going to call me in the morning at-- at a pay station.

Well, Mrs. Stanford, there're just a whole lot of

policemen that are out looking for your husband.

Now they have got official military photographs to go by.

Now, of course, I'm going to go anywhere he says,

but my advice to you is to do it soon.

Yeah, I knew I could depend on you to help.

I'll-- I'll call Miss Coughlin if Arnold

will agree to a meeting place.

I'll be waiting.

Thank you.

She's awfully nice. I hope you can help her.

Yeah, well, I just feel a lot better about it

if I already had him in custody.

You know, she's right about one thing.

The department is not going to take any chances

with a man that's already shot two policemen.

And I can't say that I blame them.

[instrumental music]

Can I buy you a cup of coffee?

No, but I could use a telephone.

My pleasure, come on.

[telephone ringing]

McCloud...

I got tied up a bit. How we doin'?

We're doing fine. Joan's here.

And, uh, her husband wants to meet you

outside a movie house...

97. Yeah, I got it.

Uh, that doesn't give me much time to get there.

Now, he's going to wait until he's sure you've gone in

and he's sure that you're alone.

Well, now, I don't know if that's a good idea.

His hanging around outside the theater

ain't exactly my idea of safe.

Chris on phone: He has no choice.

That's the way he wants it.

Alright. I gotta run if I'm gonna make it on time.

Tell Mrs. Stanford not to worry.

Woman on radio: Suspect pursued on...

Joe, I'm gonna need a couple of hours--

Hold it, McCloud.

Woman on radio: Suspect pursued on East 63rd

and has entered park off Fifth Avenue.

Now, don't have to worry about that one.

They spotted Arnold Stanford,

probably corner him in the park.

Well, he was on coming to meet me.

McCloud, how do you do it?

Well, it's the only way that I could take him alive.

If they corner him in the park, and he might get killed.

A man starts shooting at people, deserves what he gets.

Well, I'm not just concerned about Arnold Stanford, Joe,

I'm also thinking about the officers

that are getting in his way.

I tell you, they have never come across a man that can shoot

the way he can shoot.

I got to get to him first.

Joe: It's a big park, McCloud.

It takes over an hour to cover it on foot. The chance--

I don't have time to worry about New York traffic.

Take care of our lady friend. I'll meet you in the park.

[dramatic music]

McCloud!

Tobey! Tobey!

[music continues]

10-4

[siren blaring]

Officer Brodney tailed Stanford into the park at this point.

- He's trying to stop him? - Couldn't get close enough.

He kept a screen of people between 'em.

Brodney lost him just inside the park.

Keep those units coming in.

We'll need all the help we can get.

Oh, Polk, warn them Arnold isn't just armed, he's a dead shot.

[siren blaring]

[instrumental music]

Rudiveche, where's Stanford?

Ask the sergeant.

Here, hold my coat, will ya?

Sergeant, Marshal McCloud on temporary assignment here.

Brodney: Yeah.

Look, I hate to put it to you like this

under the circumstances, but which way did he go?

Brodney: He? - Arnold Stanford.

We lost him some place in the park.

Heading west. But we'll get him.

Few more minutes, we'll have every entrance buttoned up.

Much obliged.

Hey, where you going? You can't go in there!

[dramatic music]

And don't take any chances with him.

I don't want to lose a single man.

Are you alone?

- Yes, sir. - Where's McCloud?

McCloud... Well...

Lieutenant!

[instrumental music]

Tell me this is just a bad dream.

You want me to try and have him stopped?

Just how do you propose to do that?

[instrumental music]

[siren wailing]

[music continues]

Stanford, this is Marshal McCloud.

Now, it's just you and me.

You give yourself up, I promise you, you'll be taken alive.

[siren wailing]

[instrumental music]

[grunting]

Oh, I tell you, you're a hard man to talk to, Stanford.

As I recall, we were going to have a little powwow

about your future.

I just want you to know that I'm still of a mind

to lend you a hand if you're willing.

Arnold, I'm not going to hurt you and I'm not going

to let anybody else hurt you.

But I got to know that you'll try.

Are you willin'?

I'll try.

Attaboy.

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

[music continues]